What I’ve Learned About Looking After Curly Hair
Curly Hair Has a Habit of Keeping Us Guessing
After years of developing CurlyEllie and, more importantly, being a mummy from a long line of curly haired family members and children, I’ve learnt one thing for certain: there is no such thing as THE perfect curly hair routine.
One wash day, your curls are soft, defined and bouncing perfectly. The next, they’re frizzy at the roots, dry at the ends and seemingly refusing to cooperate, despite doing exactly the same thing.
Sound familiar?
I’ve spent years listening to customers, experimenting with formulas and learning from my own hair and my children’s hair. What I’ve realised is that curls, waves and coils are all completely different.
Your hair might be fine but incredibly dry. Your child’s curls might tangle constantly but become weighed down by too much product. You might need lots of moisture but very little hold, while someone else needs exactly the opposite.
That’s why I’ve never believed your bathroom shelf needs to be overflowing with curly hair products.
Instead, I always suggest starting with one simple question:
What does my hair actually need?
Here are some of the most common things I hear from our CurlyEllie customers, and the routines I recommend.
- “My curls are dry and thirsty”
Your hair is asking for: MOISTURE
If your curls feel rough, dull or dry, particularly towards the ends, they may simply be craving more moisture.
Curly hair naturally makes it harder for the oils produced by your scalp to travel all the way down the hair shaft. That’s one reason curly lengths and ends can feel much drier.
Suggested routine:
a. Cleanse gently
I’d start with our Gentle Shampoo to cleanse the scalp and hair without unnecessarily stripping away its natural oils.
b. Don’t skip the conditioner
Follow with Nourishing Conditioner, concentrating particularly on the lengths and ends.
c. Add leave-in moisture
Apply Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner while the hair is still damp. It adds another layer of hydration while helping to encourage curl definition.
d. Give very dry curls some extra love
When my curls are particularly dry, I reach for our Intensive Treatment Mask for a deeper conditioning treatment.
My CurlyEllie tip: If your hair is consistently very dry, damaged or extremely frizz-prone, have a look at our richer CurlyEllie Intense Collection.
2. “My curls look good when wet… then turn into frizz”
Your hair is asking for: DEFINITION + HOLD
Oh, I know this one!
Your curls look incredible straight out of the shower. They’re clumping beautifully and you’re already imagining how amazing they’re going to look when they’re dry.
Then they dry.
And somehow those beautiful curl clumps have transformed into a cloud of frizz.
This is where styling products become important.
Hydration helps create healthy, happy curls, but hold helps keep the curl pattern you’ve created in place while the hair dries.
Suggested routine:
After cleansing and conditioning:
a. Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner
Apply to damp hair for moisture and definition.
b. Add your chosen hold product
For softer, more natural-looking definition, try our Natural Hold Curly Gellie.
If you want your curls to stay defined for longer or need more control, try our Strong Hold Curly Gellie.
Or, if you want definition and bounce with a more flexible hold, our Flexible Hold Styling Foam is a lovely option.
Then scrunch and allow your hair to air dry or diffuse gently.
And most importantly…
Leave your curls alone while they’re drying!
I know it’s tempting to keep touching them, but constantly separating or disturbing your curls can break up the curl pattern and encourage frizz.
3. “My hair gets weighed down really easily”
Your hair is asking for: LESS
Sometimes the answer isn’t another product.
It’s less product.
Fine curls and waves can become weighed down when too many rich products are layered together. Instead of looking bouncy and defined, the hair can become flat, heavy or even greasy.
If this sounds like your hair, simplify.
Suggested routine:
Gentle Shampoo → Nourishing Conditioner → a small amount of Leave-In → Flexible Hold Styling Foam
You don’t necessarily need leave-in, serum, gel, oil and foam all at once.
Start with a tiny amount and build up only if your hair needs it.
I also recommend concentrating conditioner and leave-in products on the mid-lengths and ends rather than applying lots around the roots.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your curls is simply stop trying so hard.
4. “My curls feel soft, but they won’t stay curly”
Your hair is asking for: MORE HOLD
If your curls look lovely immediately after styling but seem to disappear as the day goes on, you may already have enough moisture.
What you’re missing could simply be hold.
This is particularly common when we spend so much time trying to solve frizz by adding more and more conditioning products.
Sometimes we need to change the focus.
Suggested routine:
Cleanse → Condition → Leave-In → Strong Hold Curly Gellie
Apply your gel while the hair is still wet or damp and distribute it through your curls before scrunching.
Then let the hair dry completely before playing with or separating the curls.
For a softer finish, experiment with our Natural Hold Curly Gellie.
And remember:
Moisture and hold aren't the same thing.
5. “My child’s hair tangles constantly”
Their curls are asking for: SLIP + MOISTURE
As a mummy, I know that some children’s curls seem capable of creating knots from absolutely nowhere!
The back of the head can be particularly tricky because it’s constantly rubbing against car seats, pillows, clothes and everything else little people get up to.
The answer isn’t more aggressive brushing.
It’s making the hair easier to detangle in the first place.
Suggested routine:
- Use the Nourishing Conditioner during wash day and gently detangle while the hair has plenty of slip. Work in sections and always start at the ends before gradually moving upwards.
- Between washes, our Moisturising Detangling Spray is brilliant when knots appear or curls need a quick refresh.
- You can also use a small amount of Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner on areas that are particularly prone to dryness.
- And wherever possible, don’t brush curls dry.
- A little patience and plenty of slip can completely transform detangling from something everyone dreads into a much calmer part of the routine.
6. “My curls are really frizzy, dry or damaged”
Your hair is asking for: INTENSIVE CARE
Sometimes our curls need more than everyday hydration.
Heat styling, colouring, environmental damage and naturally very dry hair can all leave curls needing something richer.
This is where our CurlyEllie Intense Collection comes in.
I developed the Intense range specifically for adults with very dry, damaged or super-frizzy hair who need richer moisture than our Original Collection.
- Start with Intense Hydrating Shampoo, followed by Intense Indulgent Conditioner and Intense Leave-In Conditioner.
- You can then choose between Intense Natural Hold Hair Gel for softer, natural-looking definition or Intense Strong Hold Hair Gel when your curls need more staying power.
- Think of it as turning the nourishment dial up.
- For children and very sensitive scalps, I would generally recommend starting with our gentler Original Collection.
7. “My curls look dull even when they’re defined”
Your hair is asking for: SHINE + FINISHING
You’ve nailed the moisture.
You’ve nailed the definition.
But your curls still seem to be missing that glossy, healthy-looking finish.
- Once your curls are styled, a small amount of Styling Serum can help smooth frizz and add shine, particularly through the ends.
- Our Hair Oil can also be used to nourish and add gloss while helping to protect the hair.
The important words here are small amount.
Especially if you have finer curls, start with less than you think you need.
Rub the product between your palms first and gently work it through the areas that need it.
8. “My curls are fine, but my roots always look flat”
Your hair is asking for: LIGHTWEIGHT STYLING
If you have plenty of curl through the lengths but everything seems to fall flat around the scalp, look at where you’re applying your products.
Rich conditioner, leave-in and oil close to the scalp can sometimes be too much for fine curls.
- Keep richer products focused on your lengths and ends.
- Then try Flexible Hold Styling Foam to encourage definition and bounce without creating an overly heavy finish.
- When drying, a diffuser can also help encourage the curls around the roots.
- The goal isn’t necessarily more volume product.
- It’s often simply less weight.
9. “My hair looks crazy in the morning but I don’t want to wash it again”
Your hair is asking for: A REFRESH
Good news.
You don’t need another wash day.
I know that feeling when you wake up, look in the mirror and wonder what on earth happened to your curls overnight!
Curls naturally change after sleeping. Some survive beautifully. Others become stretched, flattened or fuzzy.
- Focus only on the sections that actually need attention.
- Lightly dampen the curls or mist with Moisturising Detangling Spray, reshape them with your hands and scrunch.
- If they need a little extra moisture, add a tiny amount of Leave-In Conditioner.
Need more definition? Add a small amount of Styling Foam or Natural Hold Curly Gellie and allow the curl to dry again.
Refreshing doesn’t mean recreating your entire wash day.
Still not sure? Start here.
If you’re completely new to CurlyEllie and have no idea what your curls need yet, please don’t feel overwhelmed.
I always recommend keeping it simple.
Start with:
Gentle Shampoo
↓
Nourishing Conditioner
↓
Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner
Then see what your hair tells you.
Still frizzy?
→ Try adding a Styling Serum or hold product.
Curls aren’t lasting?
→ Add Natural or Strong Hold Curly Gellie.
Hair feels weighed down?
→ Reduce the amount of leave-in and try Styling Foam.
Still very dry?
→ Introduce the Intensive Treatment Mask or, for adults with particularly dry or damaged hair, explore the Intense Collection.
Tangles between washes?
→ Add Moisturising Detangling Spray.
You don’t need to discover your perfect routine on your first attempt.
In fact, after all these years, I’d much rather you start with less and learn what your curls love than layer six products onto your hair simply because social media told you to.
Your curls don’t need to fit into a box
Curl types can be useful, but your hair is so much more than a number or letter.
Two people with apparently identical curl patterns can have completely different hair densities, thicknesses, levels of dryness and styling preferences.
And your curls can change too.
Weather changes. Hair grows. Children get older. Hair gets coloured. Seasons change. Hormones change. And sometimes your curls simply seem to have a mind of their own!
So rather than asking:
“What’s the perfect curly hair routine?”
I think it’s much more useful to ask:
“What are my curls telling me today?”
Dry? Give them moisture.
Soft but losing definition? Give them hold.
Heavy and flat? Give them less.
Tangled? Give them slip.
Damaged? Give them some extra nourishment.
And if everything looks great?
Leave those curls alone and enjoy them.
After more than a decade of creating products for curly hair, I’ve learnt that the best curly hair routine isn’t necessarily the one with the most steps.
It’s the one that works for you, your hair and your life.
